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2018 Subaru Outback Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 798 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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33/100

Avoid This Year — 2018 Subaru Outback

The 2018 Subaru Outback is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
798
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
27
Crashes + Injuries
4 fire reports

Own or buying a 2018 Subaru Outback?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Subaru Outback (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Subaru dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V935000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V773000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V587000
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Subaru Outback

Based on 798 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
252
Visibility/wiper
214
Unknown Or Other
111
Visibility
41
Steering
35
Fuel/propulsion System
25
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Power Train
14
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Subaru Outback — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.

2012 290 complaints 2013 294 complaints 2014 207 complaints 2015 500 complaints 2016 635 complaints 2017 914 complaints 2018 798 complaints 2019 1,025 complaints 2020 889 complaints 2021 289 complaints 2022 448 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2019 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Subaru Outback

Is the 2018 Subaru Outback reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Subaru Outback has 3 recalls and 798 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Subaru Outback have?
The 2018 Subaru Outback has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Subaru Outback?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Subaru Outback are: Electrical System, Visibility/wiper, Unknown Or Other, Visibility. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Subaru Outback safe to buy?
The 2018 Subaru Outback has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Subaru Outback should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Subaru Outback are: 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2019.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.